Liquid distributor



April 11, 1944. G. E STEWART lL=:r Al. 2,345,278

LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR Filed March 29, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 il V L April11, 1944. G, E, STEWART ErALv 2,346,278 y LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR f FiledMarch 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7W ffy/5% while the product to bePatented Apr. 1l, 1944 George E. Stewart. Md., and Harold and Carl L.Trier, `Baltimore, S. Fielder, La Grangelll., as-

signors to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation'Application March 29, 1940,'Serial No; 326,598

16 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inllquiddistributors. More particularly this invention relates to theeasily removable and sanitary end caps or closures for distributor pipesused in the distribution of a lm of liquid onto the heat exchangesurface of a heat exchanger and to the removable and easily disassembledand assembled juncture elements between the distributor pipes andcoupling units.

In the sanitary processing of foodstuffs, such as milk, particularly inthe heating or cooling thereof as carried on in many commercialadaptations of heat exchangers, the milk is distributed in a thin lmonto the heat exchange surface of a heater or cooler. Such heaters orcoolers usually comprise a comparatively thin but relatively wide,hollow heat exchange surface with the heating or cooling medium flowingthrough passages on the inside of the heat exchanger heated or cooledflows over the outer surface of the element in a thin film.

A very common meansfor supplying the film of liquid to be heated orcooled to the heat ex-V change element is a distributor pipe. Such adistributor pipe consists primarily of a .suitable length of sanitarypiping provided with a straight roW of nozzles or apertures alined withand positioned directly above the upper edge of the heat exchangeelement. These nozzles or apertures are so arranged and positioned thatthey are adapted to direct a multiplicity of closely'adjacent jets ofliquid on .the top of the surfaces of the heat exchange element. Thesejets of'liquid, upon contacting the surfaces of the heatexchangeelement, spread out and join to form a film of liquid over theentire surface of the heat exchange element.

The construction of the heatexchange element, the distribution pipe andassociated closures therefor, and junction elements must, when used forhandling foodstuffs and particularly those of a, perishable nature, beof a sanitary design. The conventional distributor pipes, closureelements and coupling elements have not -been particularly satisfactoryfrom a sanitary standpoint. From a mechanical standpoint the distributormechanism assemblage has not been entirely satisfactory in that it hasnot lent itself readily to easy assembly and disassembly. Normally theclosure and coupling elements include structural features havingthreaded or creviced portions exposed to the milk surface and positionedwhere they are not readily accessible for inspection and cleaning.

The prime object of this invention 'is'to provide a. sanitaryeasilyremovable and easily assembled closure cap and coupling or junctureelement for a distributor pipe including the necessary means to securethe alinement of the spray'nozzles or aperturesY of the'distributor pipewith the associated edge of the heat exchange element and to avoidtheuse of internally exposed screw threads, crevices or flanges on thesurfaces thereof which are not exposed for inspectio'nandv readilyaccessible for cleaning.

A further object of the present vinvention is to provide areadily'removable, sanitary Adistributor pipe closure' and couplingelement, as referred to above, which is'quickly and easily assembled`which is quickly and easily mounted in position upon .the heat exchangerand in which the closure and .coupling elements are maintained in sealedrelationwhile in operative position-withoutl the use of threadedcoupling'nuts, etc., whereby exposed threads, shoulders or. flanges andthe like are positioned on the inside of the distributor pipe .wherethey are .not readily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

One of the important features of the'present -invention is theproductionof a sanitary, v'easily assembled and removable 4closure forthe end of .a distributor pipe which cofacts withthecOmplementaryjportions of the `'heat exchange secf tion lupon whichitis supported to provide a distributor iflipe, together `with closureelements therefor, which is easily assembled upon the heat exchangervand Which is maintained in proper predetermined alinement andoperativeposition.

The foregoing ebjectsand other important featureswhich. itY is desiredto accomplish Will become apparent as the nature of the invention isbetter understood. The organization ofthe elements of the invention visWell set forth'in the following description of the invention when readin which;Y Figure- 1 is aside elevational view of a heat exchangerpartially in broken-away sectioneprovided with animproved distributorpipe and cloures thereforshown in longitudinal sectional eleinvconnection.A with kthe accompanying drawings FigureZ is a plan vieWofthe cooler and distributor mechanism shown inFlgure 1. 'Figure 3 is latransverse sectional elevational view taken at`the" end of thedistributor pipe showing in end elevation the assembled closure cap andcompression 'spring assemblage. i

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a compression Ythe pipes I8 and toseal the inner ends of the pipes I-8 to the coupling elementA I9 withoutthe use of conventional compression nuts, etc., which normally involvethe utilization of unsanitary screw threads which are not readilyaccessible for cleaning, a compression spring generally indicated by thenumeral 32 is provided. The comn pression spring 32 is interposedbetween the bracket element 23 at one end of the distributor mechanismand the adjacent end face of the closure cap 29. By such interpositionofthe compression spring 32 it is compressed and the entire distributorassemblage consisting of sectional distributor pipes I8, coupling T I9and closure" caps 29 is urged toward the opposite heat exchanger bracketelement 23, thereby urging the complementary beveled faces and 21 and 25and 30 into sealing engagement one with another to completely seal thedistributor assemblage save for the distributor apertures or nozzles 20.

The compression spring 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is comprised ofanupper portion 33 disposed at substantially a right angle to thebowedvbifurcated lower portion 34. To assemblel the spring upon thedistributor mechanism and heat exchanger the bifurcated lower portion 34is superimposed over the vertical lug 2I of the closure cap 29 with oneleg of the biiurcated portion 34 on each side of the lug 2I and with theupper and lower extremities of the bifurcated portion 3d abuttingagainst the bracket element 23 and the bowed section of the bifurcatedportion 34 abutting against the adjacent face of the closure cap 29. f

The upper portion 33 of the spring 32, when it is in assembled operativeposition upon the heat exchanger, overlaps the upper extremity of thebracket element 23, as clearly shown in Figure l. By this arrangement itis only necessary, when desiring to disassemble the distributormechanism from the heat exchanger, to withdraw the com pressed spring 32and lift the assembled distributor mechanism upwardly until the lugs 2lare clear of the grooves 22 in the bracket element 23.

In Figures 5 and 6 are shown a modified construction of the preferredembodiment of the present invention. In this modified construc-- tionthe compression spring 32 has been e1i1ninated. To eliminate-thecompression spring 32 and seal the closure caps 29 'against the cuterend of the distributor pipes I8, each of the collars 24 has beenprovided at its rear edge with an outwardly extending threaded flange35. The threaded flange 35 isadapted to engage an in.F

.ternally threaded coupling nut or sleeve 36 hav ing an inwardlyextending ange 31 to overlap and engage the outer face of the closurecap 29. Upon the tightening of the coupling nut or sleeve 36 upon thethreaded flange 35, the

overlapping and inwardly extending flange 37 will be brought intoengagement with the closure cap 29 thereby compressing it against theends of the pipe I8 to sealingly engage the same.

In both modifications of the invention, as shown in the gures, thearrangement of studs 'and lugs to maintain the distributor mechanism"and the spray apertures therein in alinement with the heat exchangeelement-of the heat exchanger is the same, as well as the arrangement ofthe closure caps for the ends of the distributor pipes, end collars onthe pipes, and the comple mentary beveled sealing faces.

novel cooperative relations whereby a distributor mechanism devoid ofunsanitary elements has been provided in which the closure elements maybe readily assembled and disassembled upon the ldistributing Vmechanismand the distributing mechanism readily and quickly assembled upon anddisassembled from the heat exchanger, and in which distributingmechanism thevr closure elements are. also used to aline the sprayapertures or nozzles of the distributor mechanism with the heat exchangeelement, the invention is not to be restricted to the specicallyillustrated embodiments of the invention disclosed except in so far asnecessary by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims. i i vThe invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In a liquid distributor, an apertured distributor pipe, means forsupporting said pipe, a ferrule at the end of said pipe, a closure captted over said ferrule to close the end of said pipe, coacting means onsaid pipe and closure cap to prevent relative rotation between said pipeand said closure cap, and spring means for urging said closure capagainst the end of said pipe to close the same.

2. In combination, a distributor means for liquid having a series ofspaced discharge apertures in a wall thereof for discharging liquid insubstantially uniform distribution over a portion of the surface of aliquid supporting means, clo- .sure caps for the ends of saiddistributor means,

bracket elements extending upwardly from the liquid supporting means, agroove in the inner face of each bracket element, a lug on each of Asaidclosure caps to engage the adjacent groove to prevent rotation ofr saidclosure caps relative vto said bracket element, a slot in the skirt ofYtributor pipe extending horizontally from and communicating with theborev of said coupling head and having a ferrule at its free end, studmeans on said distributor pipe, a closure cap for the ferruled end ofsaid distributor pipe, a slot .in said closure cap and in said couplinghead for engaging said stud means on said distributor .pipe to preventrelative rotation between the same, support bracket means for saiddistributor pipe, and spring means compressed between said .bracketmeans and said closure cap for urging ysaid closure cap against saiddistributor pipe and said distributor pipe againstr said coupling head.

whereby said closure cap, distributor pipe and coupling head may bemaintained in sealed nonrotatable relation one to another.

4. A liquid distributor comprising, in combination, a bored couplinghead, an apertured distributor pipe extending horizontally from andcommunicating with the bore of said coupling head and having a ferruleat its free end,- stud -said closure cap to engage the groove in saidbracket means, and spring means compressed between said bracket meansand said closure cap for urging said closure cap against said dis,-

tributor pipe and said distributor pipe against Asaid coupling head,whereby said closure cap,

said distributor pipe and said coupling head are maintained in sealedrelation one to another and maintained in non-rotatable relation withrespect to said bracket means.

5. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, aconduit, a closure cap for sealing the end of said conduit, means onsaid conduit to engage cooperative means on said closure cap to preventrelative rotation between said `closure cap and said conduit when saidclosure cap is in sealing position, means for supporting said conduitand closure cap, and compressed resilient means engaging the supportingmeans and said closure cap for urging said closure cap into sealing`engagement with the end of said conduit.

6. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, aconduit, -a closure cap `for sealing the end of said conduit, means onsaid conduit to engage cooperative means on said closure cap to preventrelative rotation between said closure cap and said conduit when saidclosure cap is in sealing position, meansr for sup porting said conduitand closure cap, compressed resilient means engaging the supportingmeans and said closure cap for' urging said closure cap into sealingengagement with `the end of said conduit, and inter-acting tongue andgroove means to prevent relative lateral motion between said closure capand said means for supporting said conduit.

7. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a uiddistributor, means for supporting said distributor, an opening in saiddistributor normally adapted -to be sealed, a closure for sealing saidopening in said distributor,

co-acting means on said closure and said distributor to prevent relativerotation between said distributor and said closure, and compressedresilient means for urging said closure against said distributor to sealsaidopening and to maintain said co-aeting means in co-acting engagement.

8. In combination, an open-ended liquid dis.- tributorfor distributingliquid onto a liquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, closureImeans for sealing the open end of said open .ended distributor, andresilient means compressed against said closure means for urging saidclosure means into sealing engagement with said distributor over theopen end thereof.

9. In combination, an open-ended liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a lliquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, asupport for said distributor, closure Vmeans for vsealing the open endof said open-ended distributor, and resilient means compressed againstsaid support and. engaging `said Closure means vfor urging said closuremeans into Vsealing engagement with said fluid distributor for sealingthe open end thereof.

10. In combination, an open-ended liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a liquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, closuremeans for said open-ended distributor, stationary means for supportingsaid distributor and closure means, said closure means being splined tosaid distributor and to .Said means fOr SUD- porting said distributor,and means for maintainirg said closure means sealed to said distributor,whereby said distributor is prevented from rotating about its axis.

1l. In combination, an open-ended liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a liquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, closuremeans for said open-ended distributor, stationary means for supportingsaid distributor and closure means, said closure means being splined tosaid open-ended distributor and said means for supporting saiddistributor by splining means on said stationary means and on saidclosure means and on said distributor when maintained in sealingposition on said distributor, and means for maintaining said closuremeans sealed to said distributor, whereby said distributor is preventedfrom rotating about its axis.

12. In combination, a sectional liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a liquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, acoupling head for receiving adjacent ends of said sectional distributor,sealing means for the remaining ends of said distributor, and springmeans for urging said sealing means into sealing position on saiddistributor and for urging said adjacent ends of said sectionaldistributor to said coupling head.

13. In combination, a sectional liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a liquid re ceiving surface longitudinally thereof, acoupling head for receiving adjacent ends of said sectional distributor,sealing means for the remaining ends of said distributor, stationarysupport means for supporting said coupling head, said sectionaldistributor and said sealing means, and resilient means for urging saidsealing means into sealing position on said distributor and for urgingsaid adjacent ends of said sectional distributor to said coupling head,said sealing means and said coupling head being splined to saiddistributor and said sealing means being splined to said support means,whereby said distributor, said coupling head and said sealing means areprevented from rotating about the aXis of said distributor.

14. In combination, a sectional liquid distributor for distributingliquid onto a liquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, a cou'-pling head for receiving adjacent ends of said sectional distributor,sealing means for the remaining ends of said distributor, a support forsaid distributor, coupling head and Y sealing means, and means Lforurging said sealing means into sealing position on said distributor andfor urging said adjacent ends of said sectional distributor to saidcoupling head, said coupling head and said sealing means being splinedto said distributor and said sealing means being splined to saidsupport, whereby relative rotation between said coupling head, saiddistributor and said sealing means about the axis of said distributor isprevented.

15. In combination, a liquid distributor for distributing liquid onto aliquid receiving surface longitudinally thereof, a coupling head forreceiving an end of said distributor, sealing means for the remainingend of said distributor, a support for said distributor, and means forurging said sealing means into sealing position on said distributor andfor urging said distributor to said coupling head, said sealing meansand said coupling head being splined to said distributor and saiddistributor being splined to said support, whereby relative rotationbetween said coupling head, said distributor and said sealing meansabout the axis of said distributor is prevented.

16. A device of the type described comprising, in combination, a liquidreceiving surface disposed between oppositely positioned liquiddistributor support means, a liquid distributor having dischargeapertures in a Wall thereof for discharging and distributing liquid ontosaid liquid receiving surface and resting upon said support means,closure means for the ends of said distributor, and spring meanscompressed between said support means and said closure means for urgingsaid closure means against the ends lo of said distributor for sealingthe same.

GEORGE E. STEWART. CARL L. TRIER. HAROLD S. FIELDER.

